Perspectives: Simon Barry and Rachel Nichols talk about Continuum
May 14, 2014 by admin
Simon Barry
“TV is more of a master to serve because you have this incredible schedule of production and post-production,” observes Simon Barry who wrote the feature screenplay for
The Art of War (2000) starring Wesley Snipes (
Blade), and is the creator and showrunner for
Continuum [Showcase, 2012 to present]. “It’s close to the bone in regards to the time you have to make, get the show out and give it to the network. TV has a higher pace but film can be just as gruelling in terms of the demands of filming and the problems that have to be solved.” There is no two year wait to have an episode appear on the small screen. “It is a quick turnaround which in some ways forces you into a work schedule that eliminates a lot of second guessing and questions that you would normally have the time to ask when you’re doing a movie. It can make you more efficient in an interesting way.” The two storytelling mediums are moving in different directions. “Film has become more homogenized and risky; therefore, the choices have become things like franchises and sequels. That’s driven the risk adverse into a place where they feel that they have a bit more protection. Whereas in television that isn’t the case because you don’t have compete with